When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? Some people imagine sleigh bells ringing. Some people imagine having family all together on Christmas Eve in front of a fireplace opening presents. But, some people imagine how they're actually going to get where they need to go during the holidays in a vehicle that can hardly run. Arnell Auto Group decided to take up the mission of helping as many people as they could who were in desperate situations and needed reliable transportation. They took from the popular reality show and named their act of charity Extreme Car Makeover.
"When this came about, this was something that the Arnell family wanted to give back," explained Tom Seely, General Manager of Arnell Auto Group.
{vimeo}19684866{/vimeo}
What happened was Arnell had people who wished to submit their car for possible repair, send in a letter stating what they're driving, the repairs that they need and the reason why they need those repairs. Then with a set budget, a team of Arnell executives had the arduous task of going through the 80 to 90 submissions and deciding which ones needed a running vehicle the most.
"Most of [the cars that were chosen for repairs] didn't run. Some of them, it was the only means of transportation," said Seely. "The first [repaired car] we've actually put a new engine in the vehicle. The second one was a smattering of brakes, no heat. I mean, there's people driving around with no heat, with kids in the car."
After all the cars went through the various repairs, replaced engines, and even waxing and buffing of the vehicles, the cars' owners were welcomed in "Extreme Car Makeover" style with the entire Arnell staff welcoming the first three recipients along with lights, cameras, and glamour.
"It's so touching and in your spirit to know that there are still such gracious, kind, nice people in this world when there are so many terrible things going on, yeah know, there are the kind people that step into your path that make you feel so wonderful," said one of the grateful recipients, Sabrina Rogers, in between tears.
"I cried," explained another one of other recipients, Christie Patterson, when she first heard that her vehicle was chosen. "I was like weeping off and on all day because I couldn't believe that 'Wow, my prayers have been answered!'" Patterson was one of the recipients that stood out, because of the condition of her vehicle, not having working heat and also being a single mother with 6 children.
"I was constantly stressed out about it and thinking 'How am I going to get this thing fixed. I really don't have the money for it. Well, maybe if I don't pay my bills this month and put those off and maybe I can keep the van sort of running.' It was a challenge."
Another recipient, Lindsay Dominguez, had the weight of carting her hearing-impaired daughter back and forth to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis four times a month. Upon hearing that her car was going to be repaired, she said, "Honestly, I cried...I screamed and jumped up and down."
All three recipients were extremely grateful to Arnell and their donation to themselves and the rest of the community.
"We serve a big God," said Rogers. "When you think that the whole world is just coming down on you and things are so bad, you just keep walking toward the light because He's going to straighten the path and do these kinds of things for you," as she looked behind and put a hand proudly on her "brand new" truck.
"You don't see it done every day," commented Seely. "I don't know if there's another car dealership that's actually given that back."
Thanks Arnell Auto Group for your generous contribution to the community during this holiday season and congratulations to those recipients who received their vehicles in tip-top shape!
For more photos from the recipients receiving their repaired cars, click here!